Duration of fracture prevention after zoledronate treatment in women with osteopenia: observational follow-up of a 6-year randomised controlled trial to 10 years
In study extension (n=762) reduced fracture rates (FR) due to zoledronate in the trial were maintained in the first 2 years of extension (1.5–3.5 years after last infusion) but not thereafter (non-vertebral FR 15 per 1000 woman-years in years 4-6 vs 24 & 42 in years 6-8 & 8-10)
Source:
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
SPS commentary:
Comment article suggests that these new data show that despite zoledronate having a long biological half-life with continued suppression of bone turnover to 10 years (approximately 5.5 years from the last zoledronate infusion), fracture risk began to increase beginning approximately 3.5 years from the last provided zoledronate dose. It also highlights some possible limitations of the study, including: male patients were not included, many of the patients were of European ancestry, and that women younger than 65 years were not included.